WHO IS 民联5周年， RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? 槟民怎么说？ pg 19 pg 1 FREE buletin Competency Accountability Transparency http:www.facebook.com/buletinmutiara March 1 - 15, 2013 http:www.facebook.com/cmlimguaneng Power to the people on highway projects THE political tsunami of 2008 was marked with much jubilation as some 50,000 people flooded the Esplanade field on March 8 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Pakatan Rakyat in Penang. The crowd gave a resounding ‘YES!’ when Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng asked them: ‘Are you ready for PR?’ - Pix by Chan Lilian THE Pakatan Rakyat Penang were recently awarded to a land and the mainland,” said are required so that existing UNESCO World Heritage city state government will submit consortium comprising a local Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng roads can make way for tram status. to the will of 1.6 million Pen- company and Beijing Urban in a press statement. lines,” Lim said. Two, BN did not fulfil its angites to decide on the tender Construction Group, a major Lim added that BN’s mono- BN’s monorail project will promise when the monorail award of four highway im- Chinese construction company rail is inappropriate for a not happen even if BN wins in was first mooted by former provement projects worth that built the Bird Nest, Bei- world heritage city like Pen- Penang because of two rea- Prime Minister Tun Abdullah RM6.3 billion, including jing’s Olympic Stadium. ang, as its elevated structure sons. Ahmad Badawi in 2006. Nei- Southeast Asia’s first under- “Should PR win power in will destroy Penang’s charms. One, the monorail would ther was this promised deliv- water sea tunnel from Gurney Putrajaya, PR is also propos- “As a tram system on level not be permitted by UNESCO ered when Datuk Seri Najib Drive to Bagan Ajam. ing a tram system throughout ground would match Penang’s and its construction would The four major highways the state linking both the is- heritage, new alternative roads cause George Town to lose its TURN TO PAGE 2 2 March 1 - 15, 2013 Land title for YWCA RM30,000 for our MARCH 6 was an auspicious day in the his- fallen heroes tory of the YWCA as the association finally THE state government, in a move to show support and ap- received the long-awaited land title from Pen- preciation to the nation’s security personnel, has declared that ang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. it will make cash donations to each family of the policemen “Most of our seniors who contributed to- killed in Lahad Datu, Sabah. wards this establishment have gone ahead of When announcing the contribution, Chief Minister Lim us and little did we know the young man born Guan Eng said a contribution of RM30, 000 would be given much later than the date of our building would to families of the fallen heroes. one day become the Chief Minister of Penang The victims were killed on March 2 when Sulu gunmen to hand over the long-awaited title deed of the fired at policemen who were scouring the Lahad Datu area YWCA Penang.” said YWCA president Dr for the intruders. Marina David. “I extend my condolences to the families of those killed YWCA Penang, the first and oldest women‘s and congratulate the others for their bravery.” said Lim at a organisation in Malaysia, was established in press conference on March 6. 1909. The YWCA hostel, a three-storey building on one acre of land in Greenlane alienated to YWCA Penang by the state government, was completed in 1958 and officially opened by Tengku Puan Nor Sa’adah, wife of the then Governor of Penang. The land lease which started in 1956 expired after 33 years. In 1990 the land lease, on which the YWCA hostel, kindergarten and office stand, was ap- Dr David is glad to receive the land title for proved and the land premium was RM406,051. YWCA. The YWCA Penang has been paying the premium in instalments and later was asked to with the help of donations from churches, settle in full, but the past committee could not friends, NGOs and other YWCAs along with raise the money to settle the payment. some interest-free loans and finally settled the Dr David worked hard to raise the money outstanding dues to the State Land Office. Trams will run when Anwar is PM! FROM PAGE 1 public transport in Penang. nessed the exchange of Memorandum RM6.3 billion awarded to the lowest Lim also spoke on the calls for of Understanding by me for these tenderer, Consortium Zenith BUCG Razak became the Prime Minister. entry charges to be imposed on all four highway and tunnel projects in Sdn Bhd. “Clearly we have to wait until vehicles entering George Town. Kuala Lumpur. No cash will be paid but payment Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becomes “We have rejected this proposal as “The open competitive tender was will be made in the form of 110 acres the Prime Minister, then will there be PR is committed to free movement called on Nov 14, 2011 and public reclaimed land in Tanjung Pinang. a tram system.” of people within Penang as well as engagement was carried out in 2011 “For Teng to claim that the re- Public transport is the sole juris- those from outside Penang. To adopt briefing them of the project. The claimed land is non-existent is a diction of the Federal government. this ‘Singapore model’ to reduce traf- entire tender exercise was a transpar- shameless lie as BN had approved the Even if the state government has the fic congestion is elitist at best in re- ent and accountable process. reclamation of 940 acres at a shock- funds, the Federal government can serving George Town for existing “How can these four projects be ing price of RM1 per sq ft with 10 refuse to give licensing and co-oper- residents and discriminatory at worse done with amazing speed when the per cent of the land to be given to the ate to allow a public transport system by only ensuring that the well-off can first will be completed after 2017 and state government. in Penang. enter the city.” the underwater sea tunnel by 2023-25, Can Teng explain why BN had sold This refusal to co-operate was The Penang state government re- even though the state government will the land at such a low and illogical clearly demonstrated when the Fed- grets the lies made by BN Penang try to finish it by 2020? The long con- price of RM1 per sq ft? The PR Pen- eral government refused to accept chief Teng Chang Yeow on the tender struction time is due to the need to ang state government managed to RM10 million yearly by the state price, if the federal government has comply with Environmental Impact increase the amount of land to be government to provide free Rapid been informed or approved the tender Assessment(EIA) requirements. Fail- given the state from 10 to more than Penang bus rides during peak hours to a joint local-international consor- ure to comply with EIA would mean 20 per cent, which will be used to throughout Penang state. tium and relating to the amazing that the four projects would not go on. finance the construction of the four The Penang PR state government speed in the tender award. The formal contract is still subject major highways,” he said. will not be a do-nothing government “The Federal government was to discussion and is expected to be The Penang state will not sit back and will build new alternative roads to aware of this proposed project as far signed in a few months time and it will and do-nothing on traffic congestion try to make up for the refusal of the back as 2011 when both Prime Min- not proceed if rejected by the people. by taking the easy way out in blaming BN Federal government to deliver on ister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Further, the final tender price is the Federal government for failing to their promise of providing an effective Chinese Premier Wen Jia Bao wit- not the estimated RM8 billion but provide public transport, Lim added. March 1 - 15, 2013 3 Anti-hopping law gazetted Story by Chan Lilian PENANG gazetted the anti-hopping law on Feb 14 to ensure that there is no case of party-hopping by any state assembly- member elected by the people to the Pen- ang state government. “At least the rakyat can be sure that none of their Adun will hop. Pakatan Rakyat in Penang does not encourage party-hopping. As far as Pakatan Rakyat is concerned, we are looking at Penang to lead. Penang leads in having its exco members declaring their assets. Penang leads now with this anti- hopping law in place,” Lim said at a press File pic taken in April 2012 at the conference at Komtar. Penang State Assembly. The new Article 14 (A) (1) of the Con- stitution of the State of Penang (amend- as a candidate of a political party, he joins ment) Enactment 2012 inserted says: a political party. “Change of a member’s political party : Members of the media asked the Chief Subject to this Article, a member of the Minister what if Barisan Nasional or any Legislative Assembly shall vacate his seat other party challenges this law. if - “If so, we will bring it to court. We hope (a) having been elected as a candidate the court will be wise in its decision to of a political party, he resigns or is expelled prevent ‘frogs’ from hopping,” Lim re- from, or ceases for any reasons whatso- plied.